Shen Quan still wore a smile on his face, but that smile had changed in flavor.
Seeing Shen Quan like this, Donglai couldn’t help shrinking his neck and putting a bit more distance between himself and Shen Quan.
This Beauty Zhou really had no brains, to actually dare scold Master?
Was she not afraid she’d never again have a foothold in the harem?
Zhou Wanying clearly didn’t feel she’d done anything wrong. She called toward Yao Hua Palace, "Emperor, Emperor..."
"Such clamor, what kind of behavior is that!"
The Empress Dowager came slowly, supported by Han Yiqing.
Hearing the Empress Dowager’s voice, Zhou Wanying’s face turned slightly pale, but when she saw Han Yiqing, she felt much more at ease.
She took tiny, quick steps forward, bowed in a Fuli salute and greeted them, "This concubine pays respects to the Empress Dowager, pays respects to Beauty Qing."
Shen Quan and Donglai also knelt to pay their respects.
When the Empress Dowager saw Shen Quan but did not see Li Yuyu, she already understood what was going on. Her expression darkened as she called for them to rise. "Where is Li Xiurong? Did my edict not reach her!"
Han Yiqing said gently, "Perhaps the one delivering the decree was delayed."
"Since Mr. Shen is here, the Emperor must have come to Yao Hua Palace. Lady Xiu is likely receiving the imperial presence."
At these words, Zhou Wanying’s eyes instantly reddened; she said in grievance, "Empress Dowager, Beauty Qing, the Emperor did indeed come to Yao Hua Palace."
"This concubine originally invited the Emperor to Purple Cloud Pavilion for a meal. After all, Lady Xiu is to be punished. But not only did Li Xiurong steal the soup this concubine made for the Emperor, she even coaxed the Emperor into going into Yao Hua Palace."
"Mr. Shen as well blocked this concubine, refusing to let me in. He even said that, by the Emperor’s will, this concubine is to take punishment on Li Xiurong’s behalf, and must kneel here for an hour."
When Zhou Wanying finished speaking, two clear tracks of tears slid down, making her look very pitiful and fragile.
But this sort of appearance might still work in front of a man; to the Empress Dowager, it didn’t stir much feeling. What she cared about was whether the Emperor was in Yao Hua Palace.
Since he was, she naturally had to go in and see.
No one had yet been able to clearly tell her how the Emperor’s injuries were; without seeing for herself, the Empress Dowager could not feel at ease.
"The Empress Dowager has arrived, Beauty Qing has arrived."
Shen Quan called out loudly, then followed at the Empress Dowager’s side, heading toward Yao Hua Palace.
He deliberately did not mention Beauty Zhou, making Beauty Zhou stamp her foot in anger where she stood; but with the Empress Dowager present she did not dare say anything more, only took the palace maid’s hand and also lifted her steps to go inside.
Inside Yao Hua Palace, Yan Xiu and Li Yuyu came out one after the other.
"Mother." Yan Xiu cupped his hands and bowed.
"Where is the Emperor injured? Quickly, let me see," the Empress Dowager said, her face marked with anxiety, reaching out to look at Yan Xiu’s hand.
Yan Xiu, however, dodged the Empress Dowager’s movement and instead changed it into a gesture of supporting her.
"My lady, we are outside. Let’s go in first before speaking," Han Yiqing reminded softly.
Yan Xiu glanced at her.
"Very well, all of you may dispense with the formalities; let’s go in first," the Empress Dowager calmed herself.
Han Yiqing and Zhou Wanying, who should have been saluting Li Yuyu, merely bent their knees a token amount and then were excused, since the Empress Dowager had said all were exempt from ceremony.
Li Yuyu lifted her brows slightly and did not mind.
Speaking thus, the Empress Dowager, supported by Yan Xiu, went first into the main hall of Yao Hua Palace.
There was a main seat at the head of the hall, but only a single chair.
Yan Xiu directly sat in the lower seat, and the Empress Dowager said nothing; naturally, wherever the Emperor sat, she would sit at his side.
Han Yiqing and Zhou Wanying, who had followed them in, simply did not sit, but stood behind the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
Li Yuyu was different. After she came in, although she would not sit in the main seat, she certainly would not stand there and suffer; she sat down in the lower seat opposite the Empress Dowager.
Zhou Wanying frowned; in her gentle voice there was a thread of discontent. "How can Li Xiurong come in and just sit straight down?"